Waxman Warns Metro Of ‘Possible Safety Risks’ Over Century City Subway

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A Southland lawmaker called on transportation officials on Friday to reconsider a proposed subway station in Century City over “possible safety risks” to neighboring Beverly Hills High School.

In a letter addressed to the head of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Rep. Henry Waxman warned the board against a proposal to build a station along Constellation Boulevard “because of the possible safety risks involved with tunneling under Beverly Hills High School”.

Waxman cited two independent studies conducted by the city of Beverly Hills and the Beverly Hills Unified School District that concluded their may be seismic concerns along the route that “would be less desirable for cost, speed and ridership”.

But the warnings fell mostly on deaf ears to some who told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO they still think the station should be built on Constellation.

“I think the ridership being several thousand people higher in the center is a no-brainer,” said one man.

“I understand the Westside trying to protect itself, especially Beverly Hills, from the riff-raff of the rest of L.A, but it’s here,” another woman said.

Waxman said Metro should only agree on a route “that would require tunneling under the school if there is a definitive conclusion that it is the safest alternative”.

Metro officials on Tuesday defended their endorsement of a report released last October, saying “tunneling can be safely accomplished along the Constellation alignment and under Beverly Hills High School”.